Automatically releasable work clamp for shirt presses



Aug- 1, 1950 E. N. NECKEL 2,517,130

AUTOMATICALLY RELEASBLE WORK CLAMP FOR SHIRT PRESSES Filed Jan. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 u +7 o Q- i Vw# l@ No I 3# i F l l 0o u U3 |40 4a 4e L 35 i se 35 3e j J l L' f' 3%: I 37 INVENTOR EDMUND N. NECKEL EYS Aug. l, 1950 E. N. NEcKEL 2,517,130

AUTOMATICALLY RELEASABLE WORK CLAMP FOR SHIRT PRESSES Filed Jan. 15, 194s s sheets-sheet s AFIG-7 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 AUTOMATICALLY RELEASABLE WORK CLAMP FOR SHIRT PRESSES Edmund N. Neckel, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 15, Preis, serial No. 2,390

This invention relates to work holders for use on garment pressing machines, and more particularly to a tail clamp for shirt presses.

One object of the invention is to provide improved work clamping or holding mechanism in which the clamping parts are actuated to move them to inoperative or work release position by a servomotor controlled by lowering movement of the press bed or buck as the press opens.

Another object is to provide improved clamping mechanism of the character described, including a Valve device for controlling the servomotor which is reset to closed position by the operation of moving the clamp to release position and when so reset is ready for another work clamping operation.

Still another object is to provide improved work clamping mechanism of the character described in which the valve device itself serves as or actuates an abutment which prevents locking movement of the valve actuator to operating position until the clamp has been advanced to clamping position and the press has been closed and pressure applied to the work by elevating the bed or buck.

Fig. 4i, showing the press parts in preliminary closed position; and

Fig. S is a similar View, showing the press in full pressure position.

While the invention may be applied to various JD,YlOes oi pressand used for clamping any portion of a garment or other work piece, the drawings illustrate a form whichembodies a tail clamp appliedto a press closed by downward movement of the head, with pressure applied by rising movement of the bed.

` Referring iirst to Fig. 2, the press shown includes an `upper pressing member or head l0 mounted upon one arm` of a two-armed lever Il pivoted at l2 in theirame I3 and a cooperating `lower pressing ,memben bed 0r buck Ui supported on a pedestal l5 guided for vertical movelment in the frame by depending pins i6 which slide in suitable frame bearings or guildes,` said pedestal having a depending stem I1.

Another object `is to provide improved clamping mechanism of the character described including means for so adjusting the parts as to insure accuracy and delicacy in operation and permit the clamp to be quickly moved to full open or` `servornotor 23, the piston of which actuates a pivoted lever 24, an )abutment on which lies work release position without vibration, jar or In the drawings, which represent one suitable""`" embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation with certain parts broken. away and in section, the dot-dash lines showing the clamp in open or work release position;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the press operating mechanism and the air circuits controlling its operation;

Fig. 3 is a similar diagram of the clamp operating servomotor and its controlling valve system;

Fig. 4 is an elevation looking toward the righthand end of the press;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, showing an over-center spring;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional viewillustrating the valve plunger and its` actuator;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the "beneaththe lower end of the pedestal stemV i1. Movement of the two-hand control valves contion, in which said links engage a yielding bumper device 2B, compressing the spring thereof, and

`also actuating a two armed lever 29 which in -turn operates valve 30.` Thelatter opens a path for the flow of air pressure from the source to motor 23, the piston of which moves over and clamping and press mechanism, on the line '1 -1, sa

felevates the bed into full pressure relation with the head, compressing the padding and the work supported upon the bed. The two-hand valves `25, 26 now may be released, since the upward pressure of thebed holds the toggles straightened and this action, in turn, maintains valve 30 open with consequentpressurein motor 23.

When release valve"3l is opened, it allows the air in motor 23 to evacuate. As the upward pressure of the bed on `the head reduces, the spring bumper 28 breaks the toggle 20, 2|, thereby permitting valve 3d to close, cutting off the ilow of air to pressure cylinder 23. Thereupon spring 22 moves the head lever to press open position.

Thus, it will be observed, that all 0i the press loperating air circuits `or channels are cut oi at the moment the press begins to open. According to the present invention, the opening or lowering movement of the bed is utilized to control actuation of the work clamp by ow of air through a system or circuit separate or distinct from that which controls and operates the press, although air for the two circuits may originate in the same source. At least, neither circuit affects or interferes with the other.

The clamp itself, in this instance a tail clamp for a shirt, is an elongated metal band vor `strip 32 secured at its ends to long curved arms 33, one of which at the front of the press is provided with a knob or handle 34 by which the clamp may be manipulated. Said arms are secured to the outer ends of two alined shaft members 35 (Fig. 4) mounted in spaced Lbearings 36 on brackets 31 carried by a support 38 whichin turn is fastened to and moves up and down with a y casting 39 mounted on the bed pedestal I5. The inner ends of the two shaft members are con- .nectedby a yoke 4!! ,provided .with apin 4l which holds one end of a tension spring 42, the other .erlolof Whichisattachedto the lower end of support 38. A cross piece43 on yoke 40 provides an vabutment to engage .a stop 44 to limit clamp .openingmovement As the arms 33, shafts 35 andyokell swing backrandforth, spring 42 movesV backend forth across dead center, biasing them rst in one direction and then in the other.

:Oneof shafts ..35 at its outer end is provided y witha .rocker arm 45 pivotally connected to the piston rod of a servomotor 46 pivoted at 41 to lthe stationary press frame I3. Upon flow of pressure .to this motor its piston moves over and turns shafts 35 to retract v the clamp to open position. It isadvanced to clamping position by .manual -eort applied to handle 34.

The samesha'ft 35, carriesasecond rockerarm 48 on whichis pivotally mounted a block 49 slidable upon a ,rod 50 pivotally connected to the .lower end of a valve actuating lever pivoted toand depending from the casting '39 ,carried by the bed pedestal and provided with .a roller Sla. Aoompressionspring 52surrounds rod 50 and lies .behind `block49 andan adjustable ,rod collar 53. A second collar ,54 is adjustable upon the rod on the other side of `the block (Figs. 7 and 8).

.Flow of pressure to andfrom motor 46 is controlled bya valve .5 5 conventionally shown in Fig. 3 .and `is .regulated by ithe usual adjustable needle valve 5.6. Valve .5 5 is mounted upon the machine frame (Fig. 7.) with its stem directly below a yielding plunger .device shown in Fig. 6. This .comprises a closed top cylinder 51 slidable in a support5, aguide plug'59, a plunger 55 slidable .therein and a .compression spring '6I housed in the cylinder. .Its purpose is to provide a selfadjusting, yielding connection between actuating arm 5i andthe `stem of valve 55, to accommodate variable tr-avelof said arm for `diierent adjustments of ,the parts. Motion of arm 5| in one direction is ,limited 'by Aengagement with casting ,39 .of an adjustable abutment screw stop 62.

The operation is as follows:

4Figures xl, 2, aand 7 illustrate the parts in the positions they ,occupy when the press is preliminarily closed. Thatis to say, the operator, with the ,press-open, .hasdresseda shirt upon the bed, has manually advanced the clamp to the clamping positionshown, in which it is 'held by the bias of .the over-center spring 42, and has actuated Aboth of the two hand control valves 25, 26 to cause pressure to ilow tomotor i3 and close the press. However, toggles 25, 2l are not 'fully straightened, and valve 33 has not yet been actuated, so that no pressure has yet passed to the servomotor 23, and the bed has not yet risen to appiy full pressure to the work.

rIhe plunger 5l lies in the path of advance movement of roller 5m on the lower end of lever 5l, blocking its advance, so that compression spring 52 has been compressed and shortened. although the compression in this Spring is insuiicient to overcome the bias of spring 42. At the same time, arm has moved clockwise in Fig. l and has retracted the piston of motor 45, evacuatlng that motor through valve 55, now open to exhaust.

Now, when toggles 25, 2l fully straighten and pressure flows through valves Sil, 3l to motor 23, the piston of said motor moves over and elevates thebed into full pressure relation with the head as shown in Fig. 8. The clamping mechanism rises with the bed, so Ythat roller 5in moves up alongthe side of plunger "5l to a position above its upper end and then advances to the position shown rin Fig. 8, where it lies directly above plunger 5l.

When the pressing operation has been completed, the operator actuates exhaust valve 3l,

Awhich evacuates the pressure from motor 23,

permitting the bed to move ldown and thus return to its original position. During this motion roller 56a, engages the upper end of plunger 51 and depresses it, thus lopening valve 55 and causing the iiow of pressure to servomotor 46. As the piston of this motor begins to move the clamp toward open position the slide block 49 on rocker arm 43 engages collar 54 on rod 50 and pulls the roller 5 l aofi from plunger 57, allowing valve 55 to close, thus partially resetting the mechanism for another operation.

The Vposition 4of collar 54 on rod 50 determines the distance through which the piston of motor travels and consequently the amount of motion 'transmitted to the clamp and its supporting arms. 'If `the collar is set back nearer toward the end of rod 50, motor "4G acts through or produces a longer are of clamp opening movement, while if adjusted nearer to block S9, an almost immediate closing of valve 55 occurs, with reduction in clamp travel. Collar 54 can be adjusted accurately to cause motor to act just long enough so that the momentum of the parts carries the clamp to its full open position without jar or slamming etlects. A slightlyggreater range of adjustment is made available =by the adjustable stop screw 52, which allows positioning of 4arm 5I further forward or backward, as desired, to vary `the amount of travel of roller 51a across the face of plunger 5l Vbefore itdrops off from the plunger.

Of course, as soon yas the 4bed has suiciently relieved the pressure upon the head, the bumper '25 breaks toggles 25, 2l, opens the press, and evacuates motor lil, as before stated.

Now, with the press sufciently yopen andthe clamp-in open'position, thefoperator removes the shirt from the press, dresses another upon it, and

advances the clamp to clamping position. As before, this again compresses spring .52, but rising motion of the bed is necessary in order to permit the roller on the actuating arm 5i to reach its operation position above plunger' 5l.

It will therefore be observed that in this arrangement, the clamping device is manually moved or adjusted to clamping position and is returnedto its open position by its own servomotor. "This derives its pressure entirely independently `of the system which controls the operating movements of the press itself. Flow of pressure to the clamp actuating motor is controlled by a valve device sensitive to or affected by opening movement of the pressing members, and more particularly, in the press chosen for illustration, by the downward movement of the work supporting member or bed. However, the actuator for the control- 'ling valve device for this purpose is cocked or moved to operating position as the result oi both operator and machine operations. In other words, actuator 5l for the controlling valve 55y cannot reach its operating position, shown in Fig. 8, unless rst the operator has manually advanced the clamp to clamping position and thus compressed spring 52, and the press bed has risen. sufficiently to lift roller 5l to a level in which it can advance across the top of plunger 51 to its operating position.

The mechanism is of relatively simple form and requires no special attention by the operator, who is required only to advance the clamp to clamping position when the shirttails have been properly laid or arranged, and who then operates the press in the usual manner, the clamp automatically retiring to `open position when the pressing operation is concluded. Suiiicient adjustments have been provided to insure `accuracy and proper timing and movement ofall parts in operation.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. A garment press, comprising a frame, co-

operating upper and lower pressingr members v both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position. to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor 'Fixed with respect to the frame, and an actuator therefor carried by the lower pressing member, the location of said controller on said frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and said controller, whereby to cause said servometer to retract said clamp.

2. A garment press, comprising a frame, cooperating upper and lower pressing members both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor fixed with respect to the frame, an actuator therefor `carried by and movable upon the lower pressing member, the location of said controller on the frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and said controller whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, said controller and actuator normally being out of operating relation with each other, and means operatively linked to said work clamp, and eiiective upon advance of the work clamp into clamping position for moving said actuator upon the lower pressing member into operating relation with said controller.

3. A garment press, comprising a frame, co-

operating upper and lower pressing members both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor fixed with respect to the frame, an actuator therefor carried by the lower pressing member, said controller being iiXed on the frame in the path of movement of said actuator whereby lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and said controller whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, and means operatively linked to said work clamp whereby to be raised and lowered with said work clamp and with said lower pressing member for establishing operative relation between said actuator and said controller when said lower pressing :member is raised.

4. A garment press, comprising a frame, col operating upper and lower pressing members bothI of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressingthe upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted iormovement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor xed with respect to the frame, and an actuator therefor carried by and movable with the lower pressing member, the location of said controller on said frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and said controller, whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, said actuator being movable on the lower pressing member into or out of operative relation with the controller.

5. A garment press, comprising a frame, cooperating upper and lower pressing members both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor xed with respect to the frame, an actuator 'therefor carried by and movable with the lower 'pressing member, the location of said controller on said frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and said controller, whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, said actuator being movable on the lower pressing member into or out of operative relation with the controller, and biasing means operatively linked to said work clamp whereby to be moved by movement of said clamp, and contactable with and effective upon said actuator for applying bias to said actuator.

6. A garment press, comprising a frame, cooperating upper and lower pressing members both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servomotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor xed with respect to the frame, an actuator therefor lcarried by and movable with the lower pressing member, the location of said controller on the frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and controller whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, biasing means operatively linked to said work clamp whereby to be moved by movement of said clamp, and contactable with and effective upon said actuator for applying bias to said actuator, whereby to tend to advance said actuator into operative relationship with the controller, restraining means for preventing such advance, said restraining means being fixed to the frame whereby movement of said lower pressing member causes relative movement between said restraining means and said actuator, said restraining means being so positioned with respect to said actuator that advance or" said actuator into registry with said controller is permitted only when said lower pressing member is moved toward garment pressing position.

'7. A garment press, comprising a frame, cooperating upper and lower pressing members both of which are movable with respect to the frame, means for depressing the upper member to close the press and for raising the lower member to apply pressure, a work clamp mounted for movement from open position to clamping position upon a garment between said members, a servornotor for retracting said work clamp to open position, a controller for said servomotor ixed with respect to the frame, an actuator therefor carried by and movable with the lower pressing member, the location of said controller on the frame being such that lowering movement of said lower pressing member produces actuating contact between said actuator and controller Whereby to cause said servomotor to retract said clamp, biasing means operatively linked to said Work clamp whereby to be moved by movement of said clamp, and contactable with and effective upon said actuator for applying bias to said actuator, whereby to tend to advance said actuator into operative relationship with the controller, restraining means for preventing such advance, said restraining means being fixed to the frame whereby movement of said lower pressing memer causes relative movement between said restraining means and said actuator, said restraining means being so positioned with respect to said actuator that advance of said actuator into registry with said controller is permitted only when said lower vpressing member is moved toward garment pressing position, and means Xed to said work clamp to withdraw said actuator from operative relation with said controller when said work clamp is retracted.

EDMUND N. NECKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,928,753 Cooper Oct. 3, 1933 2,059,295 Wilhelm Nov. 3, 1936 2,302,975 Sherman Nov. 24, 1942 2,364,196 Davis Dec. 5, 1944 2,365,448 Bicknell et al Dee. 19, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,517,l30 August 1, 1950 EDMUND N. NECKEL It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirlng correction es follows:

Column 3, line 46, for the Word behind read between;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

